Old Lyme Community Dinner to Raise Awareness of, Support for Syrian Family Relocation Efforts

OLD LYME, CT – The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme (FCCOL) announced Monday that FCCOL, Christ the King Church and Saint Ann’s Episcopal Church would hold a joint community dinner at 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 1.

The dinner is set to feature a smorgasbord of traditional Syrian foods and dishes, according to a release. The event is intended to help raise awareness and support for the churches’ efforts to resettle a second family of Syrian refugees in Lyme.

There is no charge to attend and enjoy the community dinner; admission is free. An offering will be taken up during the meal to allow anyone who would like to contribute to the churches’ ongoing Syrian family relocation efforts to do so.

The meal will be prepared by members of the Hamou family – the first family of Syrian refugees that the churches helped resettle to the Old Lyme community last year – and served with the assistance of congregation members.

The churches encourage residents who would like to attend the dinner to RSVP via email to any of the church offices: FCCOL: fccol@fccol.org; Christ the King Church: ctkoldlyme@aol.com; Saint Ann’s Episcopal Church: office@saintannsoldlyme.org.

“The images of the horrific refugee crisis in the Middle East have touched the hearts of so many of us in Old Lyme," FCCOL Pastor Steve Jungkeit said in a release. "We were proud to link arms with our friends at Christ the King Church and Saint Ann’s Episcopal Church to sponsor the resettlement of the Hamou family – to help the family into a new home, schools and jobs here in Old Lyme. It’s been a rewarding experience for everyone involved. And now the Hamou family is joining with us to help our churches rescue another Syrian refugee family from warfare and persecution. I am incredibly proud of the community of Old Lyme and invite everyone to join us for this fund-raising dinner.”

Visit the FCCOL, Christ the King Church or Saint Ann’s Episcopal Church websites for more information.

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